The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax

Mrs. Virgil (Emily) Pollifax of New Brunswick, New Jersey, was a widow with grown children. She was tired of attending her Garden Club meetings. She wanted to do something good for her country. This first in the series sends Emily on her first case after she successfully persuades a skeptical CIA recruitment officer that she is the best person for the job.

Metro Girl

Buckle your seat belts. New York Times best-selling author Janet Evanovich is moving into the fast lane with Metro Girl, a thrilling, high-octane misadventure with high stakes, hot nights, cold-blooded murder, sunken treasure, a woman with a chassis built for speed, and one very good, very sexy NASCAR driver who's along for the ride.

The Witness [Brilliance Audio Edition]

Daughter of a cold, controlling mother and an anonymous donor, studious, obedient Elizabeth finally let loose one night, drinking too much at a nightclub and allowing a strange man’s seductive Russian accent to lure her to a house on Lake Shore Drive. The events that followed changed her life forever. Twelve years later, the woman now known as Abigail Lowery lives alone on the outskirts of a small town in the Ozarks. A freelance programmer, she works at home designing sophisticated security systems.

The Heist: A Novel

FBI Special Agent Kate O’Hare is known for her fierce dedication and discipline on the job, chasing down the world’s most wanted criminals and putting them behind bars. Her boss thinks she is tenacious and ambitious; her friends think she is tough, stubborn, and maybe even a bit obsessed. And while Kate has made quite a name for herself for the past five years the only name she’s cared about is Nicolas Fox - an international crook she wants in more ways than one.

The Accidental Alchemist

Unpacking her belongings in her new hometown of Portland, Oregon, herbalist and reformed alchemist Zoe Faust can't help but notice she's picked up a stowaway. Dorian Robert-Houdin is a living, breathing three-and-half-foot gargoyle - not to mention a master of French cuisine - and he needs Zoe's expertise to decipher a centuries-old text. Zoe, who's trying to put her old life behind her, isn't so sure she wants to reopen her alchemical past... until the dead man on her porch leaves her no choice.

Come Sundown

The Bodine ranch and resort in western Montana is a family business, an idyllic spot for vacationers. A little over thirty thousand acres and home to four generations, it's kept running by Bodine Longbow with the help of a large staff, including new hire Callen Skinner. There was another member of the family once: Bodine's aunt, Alice, who ran off before Bodine was born. She never returned, and the Longbows don't talk about her much. The younger ones, who never met her, quietly presume she's dead.

Woman of God

St. Peter's Square, Rome. White smoke signals that a new Pope has been chosen. Is it possible that the new Pope...is a woman?The world is watching as massive crowds gather in Rome, waiting for news of a new pope, one who promises to be unlike any other in history. It's a turning point that may change the Church forever. Some followers are ecstatic that the movement reinvigorating the Church is about to reach the Vatican, but the leading candidate has made a legion of powerful enemies who aren't afraid to kill for their cause.

River Road: A Novel

Nan Lewis - a creative writing professor at a state university in upstate New York - is driving home from a faculty holiday party after finding out she's been denied tenure. On her way, she hits a deer, but when she gets out of her car to look for it, the deer is nowhere to be found. Eager to get home and out of the oncoming snowstorm, Nan is forced to leave her car at the bottom of her snowy driveway to wait out the longest night of the year - and the lowest point of her life....

Masked Ball at Broxley Manor: A Royal Spyness Novella

At the end of her first unsuccessful season out in society, Lady Georgiana has all but given up on attracting a suitable man - until she receives an invitation to a masked Halloween ball at Broxley Manor. Georgie is uncertain why she was invited, until she learns that the royal family intends to marry her off to a foreign prince, one reputed to be mad.

Naked in Death: In Death, Book 1

Eve Dallas is a New York police lieutenant hunting for a ruthless killer. In over 10 years on the force, she's seen it all - and knows that her survival depends on her instincts. And she's going against every warning telling her not to get involved with Roarke, an Irish billionaire - and suspect in Eve's murder investigation. But passion and seduction have rules of their own, and it's up to Eve to take a chance in the arms of a man she knows nothing about - except the addictive hunger of needing his touch.

Relic: Pendergast, Book 1

Just days before a massive exhibition opens at the popular New York Museum of Natural History, visitors are being savagely murdered in the museum's dark hallways and secret rooms. Autopsies indicate that the killer cannot be human. But the museum's directors plan to go ahead with a big bash to celebrate the new exhibition, in spite of the murders. Museum researcher Margo Green must find out who - or what - is doing the killing.

Publisher's Summary

You’ve lost your job as a department store lingerie buyer, your car’s been repossessed, and most of your furniture and small appliances have been sold off to pay last month’s rent. Now the rent is due again. And you live in New Jersey. What do you do?

If you’re Stephanie Plum, you become a bounty hunter. But not just a nickel-and-dime bounty hunter; you go after the big money. That means a cop gone bad. And not just any cop. She goes after Joe Morelli, a disgraced former vice cop who is also the man who took Stephanie’s virginity at age 16 and then wrote details on a bathroom wall. With pride and rent money on the line, Plum plunges headlong into her first case, one that pits her against ruthless adversaries - people who’d rather kill than lose.

The New York Times Book Review calls Stephanie Plum “a Jersey girl with Bette Middler’s mouth and Cher’s fashion sense.” In Stephanie Plum, Evanovich has created a resourceful and humorous character who stands apart from the pack of gritty female detectives.

This series was recommended to me with the warning that the first books in the series are not as good as the later ones. I had a hard time sticking with this one and the second book, but I'm on the third one now and am totally hooked! I makes me laugh out loud at times. I can't wait to get to the later books that are narrated by Lorelei King, because I really enjoy her narration of the Mercy Thompson books. So hang in there, this series definitely does get better!

I found it somewhat difficult to make my brain differentiate between all of the male characters because Critt made them all sound the same. If the author didn't specify who was talking, you couldn't tell by the narration. Critt's too-long pauses between her sentences became annoying.

Overall, I enjoyed the story but didn't love it because of the narration. I'll trudge through books 2-3 just so I can get to a different narrator in book 4.

Janet Evanovich is a publishing legend, but you'd never know it from this audiobook. C.J. Critt is the worst Audible narrator I've ever heard. Her deep breaths and pauses after every sentence distract from the story, and make you wonder if she has emphysema! Too bad she narrated the first 4 books in the Stephanie Plum series - the books deserve better!

Wonderfully cozy. A lighthearted, mystery, to curl up with, and pass the time. There were several places where I laughed out loud causing people to stare at me. Stephanie, seems to get herself into, ongoing, silly predicaments. This was my first Janet Evanovich book and I REALLY enjoyed it. I found the narrator to be perfect, but I didn't have any others to compare, as did some of the reviewers. I just purchased four more books and it seems to be quite a large series, so it should keep me out of trouble for a while! I will take the advice of other reviewers and read, rather than listen, to the abridged audiobooks. I've never cared for any of the abridged books that I've purchased.

I am still unsure why the newly released unabridged versions of Evanovich's books are being read by someone who is not Lorelei King. Critt is a mediocre Stephanie Plum at best. The story is typical first in a series, a lot of background info and explanations of characters we'll see throughout the series. Overall, the book is just kind of meh.

...mysteries are light and funny. I doubt I will ever give any of her Stephanie Plum mysteries 5 stars, but I do love the series. My preferred reading is by authors like Vince Flynn, Mark Greaney, Ben Coes, Brett Battles, Lee Child, Tom Wood, Karin Slaughter, etc.; books that are really intense thrillers. But there are times I want lighter fare but still good mysteries and that's when writers like Janet Evanovich,, Rhys Bowen, and Chris Grabenstein are most enjoyable.

One for the Money was written over 20 years ago. It and the books that follow it in the series are the perfect light and fun fare. Originally CJ Critt was the wonderful narration voice of Stephanie Plum. More recently Lorelei King narrates. Both are superb.

Would you be willing to try another one of C. J. Critt’s performances?

no

Did One for the Money inspire you to do anything?

no

Any additional comments?

I am listening to another story now, but continue to use this to help put me asleep at night. It is interestering enough to be engaging, but not enough so to interfere with drifting off to sleep.---- That sums up the story quite well.

If, like me, you found Janet Evanovich by her more recent books, and then were tempted to buy this book in anticipation of the movie, don't bother! The narrator's breathing drove me crazy. It may have just been the production back in those days that couldn't edit it out, but it was way too distracting. I look forward to each book narrated by Lorelei King and will definitely skip all those narraged by C. J. Critt in the future. Even on sale, it is not worth it.

The reader/performer used such inappropriate inflection and phrasing that she was really annoying to listen to. I very nearly deleted the book before I heard it all. She apparently didn't have any feel for the story she was reading. The main character was annoying also, and rather poorly drawn, in my opinion. No more Janet Evanovitch for me and I will try to avoid any books narrated by C.J. Critt.

I am so happy to have stumbled upon this series! It will fill the gap left by Kinsey Milhone perfectly.

Since there are only 2 books left in that series (Sue Grafton's Alphabet), and I only just discovered this one, I am guaranteed a lot of pleasant distractions for a long time to come.

I like the tone in both series, and I especially like the dry sarcastic streak that runs in both heroines. I have to admit that my mind did float away at times, and I did lose track of the story at times – but I was so entertained by Stephanie’s humour that it didn’t matter.

Stephanie is out of work and down on her luck, given a week by her cousin Vinnie to bring in a fugitive for a 10,000 dollar bounty. she needs the money how hard can it be? The story of her attempt is fraught with mishap but our heroine is undeterrred. I really enjoyed this audiobook. Well read in brash American tones by C J Critt, Stephanies extended american/middle european family are brought to life. Stephanie's combative relationship with her quarry, and their developing romance are predictable but amusing nonetheless. Recomended as an easy listen with feel good factor.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

T

5/23/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Fluffy and entertaining"

Once you get used to the narrators voice, you get sucked into Stephanie's world. If this were another type of book, the serious moments would be highlighted but as it's a fast, pop corn comedic thriller, our heroine just gets on with it and you do too. I enjoyed it. If you're looking for a easy cosy mystery - this is highly recommended.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Richard

LA BROUSSE, France

3/22/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"CJ Critt and Janet Evanovitch equals winning combo"

CJ Critt is by far the best narrator of Janet Evanovitch's Stephanie Plum series. Her portrayal of Grandma Mazur and Lula are memorable. Great characters brought alive by a great performance.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Crackdown

UK

10/3/13

Overall

Performance

Story

"Love these books"

I love these books, and was pleased to see them on audible. The only let down for me was a personal thing, I just couldn't quite get behind the narrator as much as others I have heard, but she wasn't as bad a some by a long way.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Mary

Hemel Hempstead, United Kingdom

4/13/13

Overall

"Fun start to a brilliant series"

This is a good start to the popular "Plumb" series. Stephanie is down on her luck having lost her job and in urgent need of money, so she takes a job as a bounty hunter working for her cousin. She has no skills and is totally out of her depth. She is helped by Ranger, a mysterious hunk who is a skilled bounty hunter. Her first major bond is to apprehend Morelli a cop, and the man who removed her virginity and wrote about it on the wall of the boy's bathroom in high school! No pressure there.

This is a very enjoyable story with plenty of laughs. The story takes you through her meetings with some very scary characters and enables you to fall in love with her family, particularly her Grandma. Time passes very quickly as you become involved in Stephanie's inept attempt to capture Morelli. This is a good introduction to an enjoyable series which gets better throughout each story. My only complaint is that I prefer the reader of the later audio's.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Ian

Chelmsford, United Kingdom

3/18/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Not bad"

Great first book however narrator failed to capture the cadence and sass of the book

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Report Inappropriate Content

If you find this review inappropriate and think it should be removed from our site, let us know. This report will be reviewed by Audible and we will take appropriate action.